Cornucopia, Utopia, Dystopia, created by graduate students Ancilleno Davis and Greg Loring, lies on the symmetry line that runs from King Library, across the University Seal, through the Upham Arch to the western tip of Bishop Woods (photo by Scott Kissell).

Oct 02, 2015

Cornucopia: Public sculpture framed by Upham Hall embodies balance

Cornucopia has been "living" on site since May; visit soon before it moves after fall break

The public sculpture "Cornucopia, Utopia, Dystopia," situated on the east side of Upham Hall near Bishop Woods, has been living and growing on site since its installation in May.

Unlike other public art on campus, Cornucopia has evolved during its time at Miami. The sculpture features native plants that have grown and spread - and attracted wildlife - throughout the summer and early fall.

The prize — a $2,000 social impact grant— also helped fund the installation of Cornucopia.

Collaboration

Working together on the creation of Cornucopia, Davis and Loring also collaborated with many others in the Miami community for its implementation as a public sculpture to live (and grow) near the center of campus for six months.

Rod Northcutt, associate professor of art and adviser to Davis and Loring, said "the collaboration was extensive, as they worked with many other Miami community members receiving support, donations, consultation, permissions and fabrication facilities."

Construction

The artists thank the art department sculpture area and Rod Northcutt.

Cornucopia was constructed in the sculpture studio at Hiestand Hall and was installed in front of Upham Hall in early May.

Its frame is made from half-inch round steel and provides the support for the panels.

"Steel is one of the most recycled and reused materials on the planet, but extraction has a complicated nature. What are your views on sustainable materials and recycling at Miami University, in your life or worldwide?" the artists ask.

Native plants are planted in the bed and on the panels. "What are your views on native and nonnative plants? Green space and paved space? What would you like to see at Miami University?" the artists ask.

Growth; future

Monarch caterpillars and other insects made a home in Cornucopia (photo by Scott Kissell).

Since its installation at the end of spring semester, the plants of Cornucopia have grown tremendously, the artists said. Several monarch butterfly caterpillars were discovered in the milkweed plants in August, along with other insects (and the occasional deer).

Cornucopia's future site, the Edge of the Farm Conservation Area, is owned and managed in part by Hays Cummins, professor of geography and affiliate of the Institute for the Environment and Sustainability. It is a 32-acre area is planted in tall and short grass prairies and has five wetlands and 21 acres of forest. It is located on McCoy Road, about six miles south of campus.

Meet the artists - not your traditional graduate students

Ancilleno "Leno" Davis (photo by Robert Donato)

Ancilleno "Leno" Davis is a doctoral candidate in Ecology Evolution and Environmental Biology (EEEB). His research is focused on crowdsourced bird observation data in eBird — one of the largest and fastest growing biodiversity data resources in existence. His doctoral adviser is Hays Cummins.

He received an associate's degree from the College of the Bahamas in his hometown of Nassau. He also received a bachelor's degree in environmental science with a marine science focus and a master's degree in marine estuarine and environmental science from the University of Maryland, Eastern Shore.

Davis has worked in conservation and science capacity building since 2001 and sees art as an important avenue for connecting people to the environment and nature.

is a member of the board of directors for BirdsCaribbean, an international network committed to conserving Caribbean birds.

Greg Loring, self-portrait

Greg Loring is a third-year master's of fine arts degree candidate in sculpture working with adviser Rod Northcutt.

He is also focusing on electronic music composition with Per Bloland, assistant professor of music.

Loring began his artistic endeavors as a freelance photographer and photojournalist for more than a decade, focusing on capturing the expressions, emotion and everyday moments of life.

He subsequently enrolled in the bachelor's of fine arts degree program at the University of Cincinnati College of Design, Architecture, Art and Planning, receiving his degree in 2013.

He enjoys creating large-scale public art sculptures, as well as the casting of works in metal and the creation and composing of art installations using found objects as sculptural assemblages that interact with projected video and audio to create new environments or immersive spaces.

He is currently working on his thesis exhibition for display at Hiestand North Gallery in the spring: a multiple large-scale sculptural installation joined with video and electronic music.

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